Steve Lodge, whose father Robert Lodge was a correspondent at VOA, is protesting in front of the organization’s headquarters in Washington DC. Chinese state media has praised Donald Trump’s decision to cut public funding for news outlets Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, known for reporting on authoritarian regimes. This move has impacted thousands of employees, with 1,300 staff members at Voice Of America (VOA) alone being placed on paid leave following the executive order. Critics view this decision as a setback for democracy, while Beijing’s state newspaper Global Times criticized VOA for its reporting on China. The White House defended the move, stating it will stop taxpayers from supporting what they consider radical propaganda. Trump’s cuts target the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which funds affected news outlets like VOA, Radio Free Asia (RFA), and Radio Free Europe. These outlets have received recognition for their reporting in countries with limited press freedom, such as China, Cambodia, Russia, and North Korea. Despite facing restrictions in some countries, people can still access their broadcasts through alternative means. RFA has highlighted human rights violations in Cambodia and China’s detention centers in Xinjiang, while VOA’s reporting on North Korean defectors and China’s handling of Covid fatalities has been acclaimed. The National Press Club and journalists have criticized the order, stating it undermines press freedom in America. VOA, established during World War Two, reaches millions of people weekly in various languages and has been a vital source of information in countries like China and the former Soviet Union. The recent cuts have left journalists like Valdya Baraputri feeling disillusioned and concerned for their colleagues. RFA plans to challenge the order, calling it a “reward to dictators and despots.” The Czech Republic has appealed to the EU to support Radio Free Europe, highlighting its importance in providing accurate information to millions of people. “Melihat kembali sejarah, banyak pengasingan, pemberontak, intelektual, dan orang biasa telah bertahan dalam kegelapan karena suara VOA dan RFA, dan telah melihat harapan dalam ketakutan karena laporan mereka,” Du Wen, seorang aktivis Cina yang tinggal di Belgia, menulis di X. “Jika dunia bebas memilih untuk tetap diam, maka suara diktator akan menjadi satu-satunya gema di dunia.”
